Shirley MacLaine was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1934, and escaped her strict middle-class background to pursue a career in show business. She began on Broadway in musical comedy, leveraging her ballet training and pixie charm. Hollywood soon called, and by 1955, she was cast in Hitchcock's The Trouble With Harry. She went on to play opposite leading men, including Fred MacMurray, Jack Lemmon, Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Mitchum. MacLaine also prioritized female friendships, including Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, and Bella Abzug. Her diverse interests span the political, literary, and mystical, and she remains an Academy-Award-winning actress known for her intelligence and talent.
Shirley MacLaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
Shirley MacLaine's unconventional journey in the entertainment industry was marked by her departure from a traditional middle-class upbringing and her brother Warren Beatty's subsequent success as an actor.
